空く

• Reading: すく
• Romaji: suku
• Kanji breakdown: 空 (kuu/a/su) — sky, empty, vacant
• Pronunciation: /sɯ.kɯ/

Meaning

To become empty; to become vacant; to become less crowded.

A Group 1 (godan) verb conjugated with the く row. An intransitive verb describing things becoming empty or available. Most commonly heard in お腹が空いた (I'm hungry, literally 'stomach became empty'). Also used for seats, rooms, and roads becoming less crowded.

Examples

1. お腹が空いたので、何か食べたいです。 I'm hungry, so I want to eat something.
2. 午後になると電車が空いてきます。 The train gets less crowded in the afternoon.
3. あの席が空いたら座りましょう。 Let's sit down when that seat opens up.

Usage Guide

Context: hunger, transportation, daily life

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

The kanji 空 means sky or empty. As a verb, it captures the idea of something becoming hollow or unoccupied, like the vast open sky.

Cultural Context

Era: Ancient

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal